Parking Programs & Policies

In an effort to encourage the use of electric vehicles, the City of Columbus has developed design guidelines for Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment. The design guidance covers the installation of EV Charging Stations and all accessories when used in public roadways, parking lots, parking stalls, and sidewalks. Installation includes all work necessary for the EV Charging Station to be fully operational. The completed charging station and equipment installation shall meet all City of Columbus design standards for roadways including standard drawings, ADA rules and regulations, downtown standards, and parking and downtown requirements (as applicable) unless otherwise approved by the City Engineer. The charging stations and associated equipment shall also meet the requirements of the latest edition of the AASHTO Roadside Design Guide, any other applicable AASHTO requirements, and the ODOT Location and Design Manual. For the complete EV Charger Design Guidance, click here.

Designated on-street loading zones are sometimes needed in areas with limited parking and loading/unloading options. If your business is in need of a designated on-street loading zone, please review the Loading Zone Rules and Regulations(PDF, 701KB) to review requirements and fees associated with establishing a loading zone. If you have questions, please contact us at parkingservices@columbus.gov.

While parking should be generally available to any user, there are specific instances when parking needs to be restricted. The City recognizes the impacts that removing managed and/or unmanaged parking has on residents, guests, businesses and visitors to our city.  

The purpose of this policy is to establish procedures that balance the needs of the general public for on-street parking with the need to occasionally restrict on-street parking for public right-of-way permits, special events, parades, community markets and other related activities. This policy and procedure in no way establishes procedures to restrict public parking in off-street lots and garage parking spaces. 

City permitted Special Events, Valet/Temporary Valet Parking Zones, Loading Zones, Mobile Food Vending, Residential Permit Parking, Car Share, Parklets, Two-Wheeled Vehicle Parking Zones and other Curb Lane Management Programs are governed separately by specific rules and regulations.

To view the On-Street Parking Out of Service Policy, click here(PDF, 246KB).

The City recognizes that on-street parking in some residential neighborhoods is a limited resource, especially in areas with few off-street parking facilities such as garages, carports, driveways or hard-surfaced parking areas. Furthermore, mobility for citizens with disabilities or mobility challenges can be enhanced by the establishment of dedicated ADA parking spaces along public streets for ADA designated vehicles.

Parking Services will install residential on-street ADA parking signage to provide additional parking opportunities for residents that meet the eligibility requirements, one parking space per address. ADA parking signage requests are generally approved if the applicants meets the following criteria:

• Resides at a residence located on a public street within the city of Columbus;
• Has a current ADA placard or ADA license plate from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles
• Does not have access to off-street parking such as a driveway, garage, parking pad, etc.

Please note, the physical condition, or use of the off-street parking (i.e. a garage used for storage, non-functioning overhead garage door, unpaved parking area that is not properly maintained) shall not constitute a basis for approving an application.

The ADA parking space is not limited to the applicant's use only. Anyone with a current ADA placard or license plate may legally park in the space.

To apply for an on-street ADA parking space, please review the rules and regulations and complete the application. Please return the completed application and required documentation to:

Division of Mobility & Parking Services
111 N. Front Street, 5th Floor
Columbus, OH  43215

Or email to: parkingservices@columbus.gov

On-Street ADA Parking Rules and Regulations(PDF, 243KB)
On-Street ADA Parking Application(PDF, 136KB)
City-wide map of ADA Parking Meters

A Parking Benefit District is one possible recommendation of a parking management plan to improve parking availability and encourage the use of alternate forms of transportation. A parking benefit district is a geographical area in which a portion of parking revenues can be collected and reinvested to fund a wide range of transportation related enhancements.

As paid parking rates are adjusted based on demand in congested areas, it can often be met with resistance from residents and businesses concerned about the vitality and economic development of their neighborhood. The creation of a parking benefit district can often be a compromise and create a funding source to improve the neighborhood.

The purpose of creating rules and regulations is to establish guidelines for a Parking Benefit District in areas with a mixture of residential and commercial attractions creating higher than optimal parking demand. The goal of a Parking Benefit District is to reinvest a portion of the on-street parking revenue into a defined area to enhance quality of life for residents and businesses and promote walking, biking, and public transportation.

Parking Benefit District Rules and Regulations(PDF, 4MB)

On-street public parking is a valuable, limited transportation resource managed to facilitate access to adjacent land uses and traffic generators. On-street parking is intended for short-term use and complements off-street lot and garage parking that is intended for long-term use. The City of Columbus actively manages on-street parking to support the City’s economic and development vitality.

The Parking Meter Rate Adjustment Rules and Regulations were established to create guidelines when on-street parking demand requires a change in hourly parking rates to decrease or increase occupancy. The goal is to provide a transparent process that requires the use of key performance indicators to evaluate the need to adjust parking rates to obtain the desired on-street occupancy.

Parking Meter Rate Adjustment Rules and Regulations(PDF, 1MB)

These guidelines were created in an effort to standardize the parking variance process and provide current parking availability data to Parking Services staff to make data-driven decisions about supporting or not supporting a parking variance request.

These guidelines set forth the procedure for reviewing proposed variances to parking code requirements within the zoning review process. Variances are often required to provide context-sensitive solutions for proposed developments that are unable to meet the code-required minimum number of parking spaces, or in cases where providing required parking would contribute to overbuilding parking in the area. These guidelines outline standard protocols and processes for determining staff recommendations for proposed parking variances.

Parking Variance Review Guidelines(PDF, 751KB)
Zone In - Parking Impact Study Rules and Regulations (PDF, 3MB)

The City of Columbus recognizes that public on-street parking as well as off-street parking for individual businesses and residential land uses may be limited in some areas. In an effort to achieve specific development or traffic initiatives in these areas, Chapter 3312.05 of the Columbus City Code allows for the creation of a special parking area.

Special parking areas can be established with different parking requirements that aid in balancing the needs of both residents and businesses in the defined area. Special parking areas benefit the community by enhancing efforts to review and manage parking impacts and demands. 

Creating a special parking area and in-lieu process is a key recommendation in developing alternative options to handle parking issues, encourage alternate modes of transportation, and create a process to manage parking variances while promoting economic development. 

The purpose of the in-lieu fee is to establish a process to effectively manage parking when residential and non-residential developments do not satisfy the parking requirements within the special parking area. This process provides developers the option to pay a fee “in-lieu” of providing all or a portion of the parking spaces required by the special parking area. The fees serve as a tool to manage parking variances that may be granted without full understanding of the potential parking impact a development may have on the area. The revenue generated from the fees focus on enhancing parking and mobility initiatives to balance the parking needs within the area. 

East Franklinton Special Parking Area(PDF, 215KB)

Short North Special Parking Area(PDF, 432KB)

Valet parking zones are designated locations in the public right of way where an attendant takes possession of a vehicle for the purpose of parking and returns the vehicle to the owner when requested. Valet parking is most utilized near restaurants in areas with limited parking. A Valet Parking Permit is required to operate a valet zone in the public right of way.

If your business would like to request an on-street valet parking zone, please review the Valet Parking Rules and Regulations(PDF, 268KB) to determine eligibility, requirements and fees associated with establishing a valet parking zone. To complete a valet application and pay all applicable fees, visit the City of Columbus - Online Portal.

Check out the Valet Checklist(PDF, 156KB) to make sure you have everything needed to submit your valet application.